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Post by Cindy on Sept 8, 2016 11:25:23 GMT -5
Often people think that if someone can say the words, "Jesus is Lord" that they are saved, no matter how they're living their life. They get that from misunderstanding this scripture:“Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3) We have even seen demons proclaim to people that Jesus is Lord in the gospels, therefore Paul cannot mean that simply saying those words is a test of whether or not someone is truly saved What he is saying here is that it is only when someone says that TRUTHFULLY, that it is through the Holy Spirit. In other words, What a person believes and says about Jesus is the test of whether or not he speaks from the Holy Spirit and we can determine that by the fruit that is shown in their lives. The Corinthians thought they were very wise and spiritual, but they were being taken in by false teachers and false prophets. This is why Paul wrote to them to clear up these false teachings. Paul told them that only faithful believers who were speaking by the Holy Spirit could acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. He wasn't talking about just mouthing words, but rather what those words meant. They mean that the person is acknowledging that Jesus is the Lord of their life, that Jesus is the one they live for, and that they no longer live for themselves; Jesus is now in charge of what they say and what they do. It is fairly easy to see if someone is speaking that particular phrase truthfully or not, because if Jesus is in fact Lord of someone's life, their life will look the same as His life did, and they will speak about the things that Jesus did. What was important to Jesus, would be important to them. False teachers might say the words, but the words wouldn't mean anything because they wouldn't be backed up by their lives. So it is not simply saying the words that is important, for even false teachers and demons can say those words. it's whether or not they are saying them truthfully that is the deciding factor.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,383 
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Post by fearnot on Sept 17, 2016 11:15:15 GMT -5
thank you for making that clear.
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Post by Cindy on Sept 18, 2016 11:04:39 GMT -5
you're very welcome!
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Post by bystillwaters on Sept 22, 2016 6:53:26 GMT -5
I Corinthians Ch 13.
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Post by Cindy on Sept 23, 2016 12:39:35 GMT -5
I'm not at all sure why you posted chapter 13 concerning this. Of course it does relate to it as Paul was speaking about spiritual gifts that all Christian have starting in chapter 12 and continuing on. That's another reason we know that only those who's lives reflected a life of love (the Godly kind of love that's described in chapter 13)are those who are speaking the Truth when they say that Jesus is Lord, meaning that they don't rule their lives, He does. A person who's life is ruled by God's kind of love will lead a life of peace, not anger, or forgiveness, not bitterness,and they won't hold a grudge or keep a record of the wrongs done against them. They'll be patient and kind to others, they'll put others first instead of themselves, they'll seek to promote God and others and not themselves. They'll never ever rejoice when something evil happens or is done to them or others, but instead will rejoice in speaking the truth will love and bringing the evil person or situation into reconciliation and peace if at all possible. They won't think badly of others but will look for the good in them and promote that good. The love they show others will be tied to their love of God, their faith in Him, and their hope for the completion of their salvation and the salvation of others.
The reason they can love that way is because “God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:5) which is why John says, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8) The unsaved can show some of the attributes of Godly love sometimes, but they can't sustain it because they don't know God or have the Holy Spirit within them to help them. This kind of love is not something we can do on our own. This love is the first fruit of the Spirit in our lives: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23) When we look at the fruit of the Spirit and then look back at how God describes His kind of love, we can see that all of the other fruit are really an outgrowth of love. In other words, God's kind of love brings joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Genuine love of this kind most importantly is also obedient to God's Word: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”” (John 14:21) “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.” (1 John 5:1–2) ““If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15)
Let me show you these scriptures side by side as I think they make a great impact that way:
“Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)
Jesus said: ““When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.” (John 15:26 see also John 16:13–15) That means that the Holy Spirit always glorifies Christ, obeys His Word and does His Will, guiding the believer to do the same. He conforms us more and more to the image of Christ as we study His Word, which causes all of that fruit to be evident in the life of a believer. Finally let's add this final passage to our growing list to stand beside the original scripture we started with: “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:3–6)
These character traits, are what we should see in the life of someone professing to be saved. And the longer they've been saved, the more of this fruit should be seen within them. Is that what your were suggesting?
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Post by bystillwaters on Sept 25, 2016 7:08:01 GMT -5
I am posting these verses because it seems appropriate to reinforce the teaching... because there are many false teachings in today's world... and because I love Jesus words..  (Mat 7:16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(Mat 7:17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
(Mat 7:18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(Mat 7:19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(Mat 7:20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. |
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Post by Cindy on Sept 27, 2016 11:20:50 GMT -5
Oh, ok, gotcha! thanks!
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